Ballachulish take time over potential move north

A MOVE to bring Ballachulish into shinty’s North area is hanging in the balance.

The suggestion to ask Ballachulish to explore the possibility of making the move north was made at a Camanachd Association sub committee meeting, but at the club’s annual general meeting last Friday evening, a final decision was deferred and a special meeting will now be convened to confirm their intentions. Club chairman Iain Brown conceded that it was a tough decision and one that could not be taken lightly.

"Maybe a couple of years ago when South Division One was quite a weak league it would have a more attractive proposal," he said.

"But with Oban and Glenorchy coming down from the Premier Division, next season’s South One will be much stronger and competitive.

"There is also the subject of where our reserve side would play, so it is not a straightforward decision.

"We will be meeting again very shortly and hopefully we can arrive at a decision that best suits the club."

Brown was also mindful of proposals by the sport’s ruling body to launch a full review into league structures with any changes likely to be introduced in 2014. The suggestion to invite Ballachulish to explore the possibility of a move north arose as North Division will be a seven-team league in 2012 after Kinlochshiel were promoted and Glengarry declined the invitation to step up from North Division Two.

Meanwhile, there were celebrations in Stornoway in midweek after the association’s board of directors gave the green light to Lewis Camanachd’s

bid to become a permanent fixture in shinty.

This year, the island club made an huge impression in their first season in North Division Three where they fulfilled all their fixtures and showed remarkable improvement in their playing ability as the campaign went on

It is understood that a survey of all North Division Three clubs by the association showed an enthusiastic response with no dissenting voices for the proposal that Lewis should be allowed to become a permanent feature of the league and cup structure.

In another development, however, there are fears that Ardnamurchan may withdraw from North Division Three for season 2012.

The club struggled to fulfil their fixtures in 2011 and have indicated that they intend to rebuild with development of their under-17 and under-14 sides a priority.